Fresh Kills

In the realm of organized crime films there are countless movies that depict the story of the mobsters and their lives. But how many focus on the family of that mobster? And, more importantly, how many of them show how growing up within that world of crime not only affects you, but also your relationships with those around you? In her directorial debut, Jennifer Esposito’s Fresh Kills tells the story of three women whose life with a crime boss comes with a heavy price…and how that cost can change you. 

For sisters Connie (Odessa A’zion) and Rose (Emily Bader), life is anything but ordinary. With their father Joe (Domenick Lombardozzi) heavily involved in his mob world as he uproots their life from Brooklyn to Staten Island, it becomes an adjustment for the Larusso family as the girls and their mother Francine (Jennifer Esposito) navigate new surroundings within a rather precarious bubble. Joe and Francine try to provide the best life that they can for their daughters while attempting to keep them as far away from Joe’s dealings. And although their story starts together with the importance of family and having the closeness one would expect, how the choices that Joe has made also have the potential to tear the fabric of the family apart…one crime at a time. 

Esposito’s vision of bringing the audience into the story of the Larusso family is quite unexpected. Even more unexpected is how refreshing the take on such a classic trope can be…in a dark, creepy way. Being used to seeing the action up front has been the go-to for TV and movies like “The Sopranos,” The Godfather, Casino and Goodfellas and it works for those mediums…but what about those other stories from the family? Personally, I have wanted to see more of the family’s dynamic to gain a deeper perspective and understanding those character arcs and dynamic. Esposito not only delivers that answer as a director, but also as Rose and Connie’s mother. At the crux of the relationship of her daughters, Francine’s experience as a mother and Joe’s wife do hold some bearing on the outcome. On the one hand she tries to shield her daughters from that world, but also knows that at some point…they will learn. 

While the relationship between Francine and her daughters is quite relevant, the real story lies within A’zion and Bader’s ability to draw you into Connie and Rose’s development. Even though the sisters have grown up under the same roof and experienced the lifestyle and world their father has provided them…they each take their own paths. Rose’s reluctance to embrace and support her father seems to drive a wedge between her relationship with Connie, who has ingratiated herself into the world of crime to show that loyalty to her father.  

For her directorial debut, Esposito has brought a fresh perspective in Fresh Kills. The women have proven that their voices matter and deserve to be heard. And while Francine tries her best to help guide her daughters through the murky waters of mob life, it is inevitable that their experiences will vary.